Im holds staff dialogue at Yeongbingwan: 'I'm a former administrative official myself'

'Sometimes lead by half a step, sometimes follow by half a step'

Im Gwang-hyeon, the newly appointed chief of staff at Cheong Wa Dae, speaks with staff members at Cheong Wa Dae on Monday. [Yonhap]
Im Gwang-hyeon, the newly appointed chief of staff at Cheong Wa Dae, speaks with staff members at Cheong Wa Dae on Monday. [Yonhap]

Im Gwang-hyeon, the newly appointed chief of staff at Cheong Wa Dae, gathered all staff at the presidential office's Yeongbingwan reception hall Monday for a "dialogue with employees," calling on them to take an active role in coordinating state affairs, uphold public service discipline and speak up with candid advice.

Deputy Cheong Wa Dae Spokesperson An Gwi-ryeong said in a written briefing that Im held the session Monday afternoon at the Yeongbingwan, communicating with staff and emphasizing Cheong Wa Dae's role and the conduct expected of public officials.

Im opened by saying "I'm a former administrative official myself," sharing his experience working at Cheong Wa Dae during the Roh Moo-hyun administration and expressing his intention to work closely alongside staff. He said the office's sole goal was the success of the Lee Jae-myung administration, which he described as the path to improving people's lives, and added that sincere effort would make it achievable.

He particularly urged staff not to limit themselves to simply relaying messages from individual ministries. "Cheong Wa Dae is not a place that merely passes along the positions of government agencies," Im said. "It must be a place that harmonizes state affairs — one that coordinates diverse views and makes possible what seems impossible."

On the proper attitude of a presidential aide, Im said staff must "sometimes support the president by half a step ahead, and sometimes by half a step behind," and must be willing to speak difficult truths. He also stressed that all staff were fundamentally public officials and called on them to be especially mindful of their words and conduct and to remain disciplined in their work.

Im, who had ordered the creation of an anonymous suggestion channel as his first directive after taking office, heard directly from staff Monday. One employee asked him to help sustain the sense of pride that comes from achieving results at Cheong Wa Dae, while another requested greater attention and support for incorporating on-the-ground voices — including those of policy recipients and experts — more broadly into policymaking.


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